U.S. patent application number 17/050266 was filed with the patent office on 2021-07-29 for floating-caliper brake.
This patent application is currently assigned to VE VIENNA ENGINEERING FORSCHUNGS- UND ENTWICKLUNGS GMBH. The applicant listed for this patent is VE VIENNA ENGINEERING FORSCHUNGS- UND ENTWICKLUNGS GMBH. Invention is credited to Michael PUTZ.
Application Number | 20210231179 17/050266 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005535668 |
Filed Date | 2021-07-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210231179 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
PUTZ; Michael |
July 29, 2021 |
FLOATING-CALIPER BRAKE
Abstract
The aim of the invention is to ensure a reliable lift of both
brake pads of a floating-caliper brake (1) after releasing the
brake. This is achieved in that a lifting part (20) is hinged to
the brake caliper (2) at a hinge point (21), and the lifting part
(20) is supported on the support structure (7) at a contact point
(23) at least partly at releasing the floating-caliper brake (1),
wherein a lift drive (22) is provided which rotates the lifting
part (20) about the hinge point (21) such that a support for the
lifting part (20) is produced on the contact point (23), whereby
the hinge point (21) and the brake caliper (2) are moved.
Inventors: |
PUTZ; Michael; (Sebersdorf,
AT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
VE VIENNA ENGINEERING FORSCHUNGS- UND ENTWICKLUNGS GMBH |
Wien |
|
AT |
|
|
Assignee: |
VE VIENNA ENGINEERING FORSCHUNGS-
UND ENTWICKLUNGS GMBH
Wien
AT
|
Family ID: |
1000005535668 |
Appl. No.: |
17/050266 |
Filed: |
April 18, 2019 |
PCT Filed: |
April 18, 2019 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/AT2019/060132 |
371 Date: |
October 23, 2020 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16D 65/18 20130101;
F16D 2055/0008 20130101; F16D 65/0068 20130101; F16D 55/227
20130101; F16D 65/0087 20130101; F16D 2055/0029 20130101; F16D
65/0056 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F16D 55/227 20060101
F16D055/227; F16D 65/00 20060101 F16D065/00; F16D 65/18 20060101
F16D065/18 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 25, 2018 |
AT |
A50344/2018 |
Claims
1. A floating-caliper brake, comprising a brake caliper floatingly
mounted on a support structure of the floating-caliper brake, on
which brake caliper a first brake pad and a pressing device are
arranged, wherein a second brake pad being arranged on the pressing
device and the pressing device moving the second brake pad toward
the first brake pad in order to actuate the floating-caliper brake
and moving the second brake pad away from the first brake pad in
order to release the floating-caliper brake, characterized in that
wherein a lifting part is hinged to the brake caliper at a hinge
point, and the lifting part is supported on the support structure
at a contact point at least partly at releasing the
floating-caliper brake, in that wherein a lift drive is provided
which rotates the lifting part about the hinge point such that a
support for the lifting part is produced at the contact point,
whereby the hinge point and the brake caliper are moved.
2. The floating-caliper brake according to claim 1, characterized
in that wherein, when the floating-caliper brake is actuated, the
lifting part abuts the support structure at the contact point until
the floating-caliper brake is completely released.
3. The floating-caliper brake according to claim 1, wherein, during
actuation and release, the lifting part abuts the support structure
at the contact point, whereas the contact point being moved on the
support structure when the floating-caliper brake is actuated.
4. The floating-caliper brake according to claim 1, wherein a
plurality of lifting parts are arranged on the brake caliper, which
parts each abut the support structure at a contact point and are
actuated by one or more lift drives.
5. The floating-caliper brake according to claim 1, wherein a
lifting part is hinged to the brake caliper at two hinge points,
and each end of the lifting part is supported on the support
structure at a contact point at least partly at re-leasing the
floating-caliper brake and the lift drive rotates the lifting part
about the two hinge points.
6. The floating-caliper brake according to claim 1, wherein the
pressing device is also used as a lift drive.
7. The floating-caliper brake according to claim 1, wherein a
caliper guide for guiding the brake caliper is provided on the
support structure and the lifting part abuts the caliper guide at
the contact point.
8. The floating-caliper brake according to claim 7, wherein the
caliper guide is designed as a guide pin which is arranged in a
guide hole of the brake caliper.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a floating-caliper brake
comprising a brake caliper floatingly mounted on a support
structure of the floating-caliper brake, on which brake caliper a
first brake pad and a pressing device are arranged, a second brake
pad being arranged on the pressing device and the pressing device
moving the second brake pad toward the first brake pad in order to
actuate the floating-caliper brake and moving the second brake pad
away from the first brake pad in order to release the
floating-caliper brake.
[0002] Caliper brakes, especially as disk brakes, are very
widespread and are used in particular in vehicles and machines. In
the case of a floating-caliper brake as a known embodiment of a
caliper brake, it is known that at least one brake pad is moved to
the brake disk by means of a pressing device during braking. As
soon as the brake pad comes into contact with the brake disk, the
second, opposite brake pad is moved by the acting reaction forces
and the floating mounting of the brake caliper until the two brake
pads are in contact with the brake disk. Floating-caliper brakes
have the general problem of moving back the brake pads after
braking, since at least the brake pad without a pressing device can
normally not be actively lifted off the brake disk. Only the brake
pad actuated by the pressing device can be actively lifted off. It
therefore often happens that, after braking, when the brake pads
should be lifted off the brake disk, a brake pad is not or is not
completely lifted off the brake disk. This means that a brake pad
rubs against the brake disk after braking, which leads to increased
wear (brake pad, brake disk) and losses. In a vehicle, power losses
of typically 0.1 kW up to the region of a few kW per brake can
occur. These resulting losses naturally also increase the required
drive power and, in the case of a motor vehicle, also the fuel
consumption. In the case of electric vehicles in particular, such a
loss is a major problem, since such losses can significantly reduce
the range of the vehicle.
[0003] In order to force the two brake pads to lift off the brake
disk after braking, there are various approaches in the known prior
art. In conventional, hydraulic floating-caliper brakes, the
O-rings of the hydraulic piston are often used and the elasticity
of the O-rings is used to actively pull back the hydraulic piston.
However, this works firstly only on the piston side and secondly
only as long as the O-ring is sufficiently elastic. However, the
elasticity deteriorates over the course of the operating time of
the brake. Irrespective of this, the brake pad can still stick to
its stop in the brake caliper, or the brake caliper itself can jam,
which renders moving back in this way with the aim of lifting both
brake pads ineffective. Caliper brakes, in particular in vehicles,
are operated in very harsh environments under a wide variety of
environmental conditions, which leads to contamination, corrosion
and other signs of wear and tear on brake parts. This is also one
of the reasons why lifting off on both sides by means of the
O-rings does not work, or only works to a limited extent.
[0004] Other approaches to lifting off on both sides use springs or
other elastic elements for bringing back the brake to its initial
position (resetting). An example of this is U.S. Pat. No. 4,193,481
A, in which an elastic sleeve is used which acts between the
floating caliper and its guide. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,375,842 A, in
turn, a friction ring is used between the hydraulic piston and
hydraulic cylinder in the brake caliper. When the brake is
released, the friction ring forces the brake pads to lift on both
sides. A similar solution for an electromechanical friction brake
can also be found in WO 2010/133463 A1. In EP 2 644 926 A1, a leaf
spring is used for resetting, the leaf spring being arranged on the
pad carrier and being supported on the disk guide. However, these
solutions also have the problem of the lifting of both brake pads
after braking not always being reliable.
[0005] JP 2011058584 A1 describes a caliper brake with a resetting
mechanism. In order to be reset, a lever is rotatably mounted, one
end of which is in contact with the driven brake pad carrier and
the other end with the floating caliper. When the brake is
released, the lever is rotated by pulling back the brake pad
carrier such that the floating caliper having the brake pad
arranged thereon is also pushed away from the brake disk. Although
the brake pads can be reliably lifted in this way, the
implementation can be complex practically, in particular the
protection of the mechanism from the harsh environmental conditions
in the vicinity of the caliper brake.
[0006] A caliper brake is known from EP 3 269 992 A1, in which a
mechanism is provided in order to reliably lift the brake pads off
the brake disk after braking. For this purpose, a coupling part is
provided in the caliper brake, which part effects a mechanical
positive coupling between a movable brake part (floating caliper)
and a stationary brake part. This coupling part is driven by an
actuation unit when the brakes are released such that the movable
brake part is moved relative to the stationary brake part due to
the mechanical positive coupling, whereby the brake pads can be
lifted reliably. Although the brake pads can be reliably lifted in
this way, the implementation can be complex practically, in
particular the protection of the mechanism from the harsh
environmental conditions in the vicinity of the caliper brake.
[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is that of
ensuring, in a simple and easy-to-implement manner, a reliable
lifting of both brake pads of a floating-caliper brake after
releasing the brake.
[0008] According to the invention, this object is achieved in that
a lifting part is hinged to the brake caliper at a hinge point, and
the lifting part is supported on the support structure at a contact
point at least partly at releasing the floating-caliper brake, and
in that a lift drive is provided which rotates the lifting part
about the hinge point such that a support for the lifting part is
produced on the contact point, whereby the hinge point and the
brake caliper are moved. The resulting support at the contact point
of the lifting part on the support structure ensures that, when the
floating-caliper brake is released, the brake caliper is moved
relative to the support structure, as a result of which the first
brake pad arranged on the brake caliper is forcibly lifted off the
brake disk. In this way it can be ensured that when the
floating-caliper brake is released, both brake pads are reliably
lifted off the brake disk. By arranging the lifting part at the
hinge point on the brake caliper, this lifting mechanism can be
integrated very easily into the floating-caliper brake and also
easily and securely enclosed from the influences of the outside
world, such as moisture, dirt, ice and snow, etc.
[0009] When the floating-caliper brake is actuated, the lifting
part preferably abuts the support structure at the contact point
until the floating-caliper brake is completely released. In this
way, the lifting part can be centered on the support structure when
the brake pads are abutting it, and a controlled, desired lifting
amount can be achieved from this position.
[0010] The lifting mechanism can be implemented particularly easily
when, during actuation and release, the lifting part abuts the
support structure at the contact point, whereas the contact point
being moved on the support structure when the floating-caliper
brake is actuated. In that way, it is not necessary to lift the
lifting part from the support structure during certain phases of
braking.
[0011] In order to achieve an even, reliable lifting of both brake
pads, a plurality of lifting parts can be arranged on the brake
caliper, which parts each abut the support structure at a contact
point and are actuated by one or more lift drives. In this way,
possible tilting and jamming of the brake caliper can be prevented
in a simple manner.
[0012] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, a lifting part is
hinged to the brake caliper at two hinge points, and each end of
the lifting part is supported on the support structure at a contact
point at least partly at releasing the floating-caliper brake,
whereas the lift drive rotating the lifting part about the two
hinge points. In this way, using a single bow-shaped lifting part
and a lift drive, a uniform, reliable lift of both brake pads can
be implemented.
[0013] It is particularly advantageous if the pressing device is
also used as a lift drive because then only a single drive is
required for actuating and for lifting the brake pads. The
necessary movement for the lifting part can be applied directly by
the pressing device, or by the pressing drive of the pressing
device, or can also be derived therefrom, for example by means of
suitable gears, cams, etc.
[0014] In the following, the present invention will be explained in
greater detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5, which show
advantageous embodiments of the invention in an exemplary,
schematic and non-limiting manner. In the figures:
[0015] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a floating-caliper brake according to the
invention having a lifting part and
[0016] FIGS. 3 to 5 show the function of the lifting part on the
basis of an advantageous embodiment of the lifting part.
[0017] A floating-caliper brake 1 substantially consists of a
floatingly mounted brake caliper 2, on which a first brake pad 4,
usually rigid (i.e. not movable relative to the brake caliper 2 but
replaceable if necessary), is arranged, and a pressing device 6, on
which a second brake pad 5 (replaceable if necessary) is arranged.
The two brake pads 4, 5 interact with a brake disk 3 in order to
brake. The second brake pad 5 can be moved relative to the brake
caliper 2 by the pressing device 6, in particular the second brake
pad 5 can be moved toward the first brake pad 4 or away from it.
The floating-caliper brake 1 is used to brake a translational
movement (e.g. in the case of an elevator brake or a machine part
which is moved linearly) or rotational movement (e.g. a rotary
movement of a vehicle wheel or a rotating machine part). For this
purpose, the two brake pads 4, 5 are pressed against the brake disk
3 by means of the pressing device 6, as result of which a braking
effect (braking force or braking torque) is produced. In the
context of the invention, brake disk 3 is understood to mean any
friction surface that interacts with the brake pads 4, 5 in order
to achieve a braking effect. A relative movement (rotation,
translation) occurs between the friction surface and the brake pads
4, 5, which movement is braked by means of the floating-caliper
brake 1. Usually either the brake disk 3 is moved and the
floating-caliper brake 1 is substantially stationary (e.g. as in
the case of a vehicle wheel) or the brake disk 3 is stationary and
the floating-caliper brake 1 is moved relative to the brake disk 3
(e.g. as in an elevator brake).
[0018] The floating-caliper brake 1 is arranged on a support
structure 7. Using the example of a vehicle, the support structure
7 would be arranged, for example, on the wheel mounting and the
brake disk 3 would non-rotatably be connected to the wheel hub and
would rotate therewith. Using the example of an elevator brake, the
support structure 7 would be attached to the elevator car and the
brake disk 3 would be a friction surface arranged in the elevator
shaft. In relation to the floating-caliper brake 1 or its movable
components, the support structure 7 is stationary.
[0019] The brake caliper 2 of the floating-caliper brake 1 is
arranged so as to be movably mounted in a caliper guide 9
transversely to the relative movement between the brake disk 3 and
the brake pads 4, 5. The caliper guide 9 allows the brake caliper 2
to move transversely (indicated by the double arrow in FIG. 1) and
at the same time prevents the brake caliper 2 from being moved
together with the rotating brake disk 3 by the frictional forces
that occur during braking. As a result of the transverse movement,
the two brake pads 4, 5 can be moved toward or away from one
another. The caliper guide 9 can be part of the support structure 7
or can be arranged on the support structure 7. In the exemplary
embodiment shown, the caliper guide 9 is designed as a guide pin 8
on the support structure 7. A guide hole 10 is provided on the
brake caliper 2, into which the guide pin 8 is inserted, as a
result of which the brake caliper 2 is movably mounted on the guide
pin 8. By guiding the guide hole 10 on the guide pin 8, the brake
caliper 2 can carry out the transverse movement. The caliper guide
9 is preferably protected from external contamination and other
external influences. For example, a guide pin 8 of the caliper
guide 9 can be well protected against dirt by folding bellows
and/or seals. Of course, other designs of a caliper guide 9, such
as guide surfaces, are also possible.
[0020] The pressing device 6 is arranged on the brake caliper 2,
and therefore the pressing device 6 is also supported on the
support structure 7. In the case of the floating-caliper brake 1,
the second brake pad 5 is therefore moved, in a known manner, on
the pressing device 6 toward the first brake pad 4 by the pressing
device 6 of the caliper brake 1 and is therefore pressed against
the brake disk 3. The resulting reaction forces move the brake
caliper 2 having the first brake pad 4 arranged thereon in the
caliper guide 9 until the two brake pads 4, 5 abut the brake disk 3
and, upon further actuation, a braking effect (braking force,
braking torque) is generated. The actuation can of course also be
carried out in such a way that the brake caliper 2 together with
the first brake pad 4 are moved to the brake disk 3 by the pressing
device 6 first and only then is the second brake pad 5 moved.
Naturally, the brake disk 3 is arranged between the two brake pads
4, 5.
[0021] The second brake pad 5 can also be arranged on a holding
part 11, whereas the holding part 11 being moved by the pressing
device 6. A wear adjuster 12 can also be provided in order to
compensate in well-known manner for any wear on the brake pads 4, 5
and/or on the brake disk 3. As is well-known, using the wear
adjuster 12, the air gap L between the lifted brake pad 5 and the
brake disk 3 can be changed, in particular an air gap L, which
increases while operating the floating-caliper brake 1, can be
reduced again. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the wear adjuster
12 is arranged between the pressing device 6 and the second brake
pad 5 or holding part 11. The wear adjuster 12 could, however, be
arranged in the same way between the pressing device 6 and the
brake caliper 2. Of course, the floating-caliper brake 1 can also
be designed without a wear adjuster 12. The specific implementation
of the wear adjuster 12 is irrelevant to the invention, which is
why it is not discussed in more detail.
[0022] How the pressing device 6 is specifically designed to
actuate the floating-caliper brake 1 is also irrelevant to the
present invention. The pressing device 6 can comprise a pressing
drive 13 which moves a pressing part 14 of the pressing device 6.
The second brake pad 5 is in turn moved by means of the pressing
part 14, possibly via a holding part 11 and/or a wear adjuster 12.
In order to actuate the floating-caliper brake 1, a movable
pressing part 14 driven by the pressing drive 13 is therefore moved
in order to move the brake disks 4, 5 toward the brake disk 3 or
away from the brake disk 3. Depending on the design of the
floating-caliper brake 1, the movable pressing part 14 moves at
least the second brake pad 5 and optionally also a holding part 11
and/or a wear adjuster 12. The pressing drive 13 can be hydraulic,
pneumatic or electromechanical. Electromechanical designs of the
pressing device 6, e.g. as described by the applicant in EP 2 433
025 B1 or WO 2014/139919, are particularly preferred.
[0023] When the floating-caliper brake 1 is actuated, the two brake
pads 4, 5 are pressed, in a known manner as described above, with
the pressing device 6 against the brake disk 3, as a result of
which a braking effect is generated by the applied pressing force,
for example in the form of a braking torque. When the
floating-caliper brake 1 is released, the pressing device 6 lifts
the second brake pad 5 arranged thereon from the brake disk 3. A
fundamental, known problem of a floating-caliper brake 1 is that
the first brake pad 4 is not or is not entirely lifted off the
brake disk 3 together with the second brake pad 5 when the caliper
brake 1 is released, but only the actively moved second brake pad
5. Due to the continuing contact between the first brake pad 4 and
the brake disk 3, a loss occurs in the brakeless state, which has
to be covered by the drive of the braked device (e.g. a vehicle).
These losses lead to an undesirable increase in consumption of the
drive (e.g. fuel or electrical energy). This also increases the
wear on the brake disk 3 and the first brake pad 4, which is also
undesirable.
[0024] To counteract this, a lifting part 20 is provided according
to the invention, which is rotatably hinged to the brake caliper 2
at a hinge point 21, as a result of which the hinge point 21 and
the lifting part 20 are moved together with the brake caliper 2.
The lifting part 20 extends from the hinge point 21 to a part of
the support structure 7 of the floating-caliper brake 1 and abuts
it at a contact point 23. At the contact point 23, no mounting or
hinge is provided between the lifting part 20 and the support
structure 7, but rather there is merely a touching contact between
the lifting part 20 and the support structure 7. This contact can
also be cancelled and established as necessary. The location of the
contact point 23 on the support structure 7 can also be varied. In
the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the lifting part 20 abuts the guide
pin 8 of the caliper guide 9. A lift drive 22 is also provided,
which can rotate the lifting part 20 about the hinge point 21, as
indicated in FIG. 1. The function of this lifting part 20 is
explained below.
[0025] During braking, the brake caliper 2 together with the first
brake pad 4 is moved against the brake disk 3 at some point, as
described above. The lifting part 20, which is hinged at the hinge
point 21, is thus moved together with the brake caliper 2. The
lifting part 20 is thus moved relative to the support structure 7,
here the caliper guide 9. Due to the actuating forces acting for
the braking, the contact point 23 on the support structure 7 is
also moved. In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1, the
contact point 23 together with the brake caliper 2 would move
slightly downward. The lifting part 20, or the contact point 23, is
thus centered on the support structure 7 in a position in which the
two brake pads 4, 5 abut the brake disk 3.
[0026] After braking, the second brake pad 5 moved with the
pressing device 6 is moved away from the brake disk 3 in order to
release the floating-caliper brake 1. In this case, however, the
brake caliper 2 together with the first brake pad 4 and the hinge
point 21 is not forcibly or not sufficiently moved. In order to
also lift the first brake pad 4, which is arranged on the brake
caliper 2, from the brake disk 3, the lift drive 22 is actuated
such that a non-positive or positive connection between the lifting
part 20 and the support structure 7 occurs at the contact point 23.
This creates a support for the lifting part 20 on the support
structure 7 at the contact point 23, which support is stationary
with respect to the support structure 7, and the brake caliper 2 is
moved in the transverse direction by the lifting part 20 via the
hinge point 21, in the embodiment according to FIG. 1 it is moved
upwards. As a result, the first brake pad 4 connected to the brake
caliper 2 also lifts off the brake disk 3.
[0027] In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1, the lifting
part 20 would be rotated counterclockwise. Due to a frictional
locking (frictional coupling), a support is created at the contact
point 23 of the lifting part 20 on the support structure 7 (here on
the guide pin 8 of the caliper guide 9). The support is therefore
stationary relative to the support structure 7 and when the lifting
part 20 is rotated further counterclockwise, the hinge point 21 is
forcibly moved in the transverse direction--in the exemplary
embodiment according to FIG. 1, upward. In this way, the brake
caliper 2 together with the first brake pad 4 is forcibly lifted
off the brake disk 3.
[0028] In a real embodiment of the lifting part 20, a certain
rolling movement of the lifting part 20 on the support structure 7
will always take place at the contact point 23, for example because
the lifting part 20 will have a certain rounding at the end. In the
context of the invention, such a small rolling movement is still
understood to be stationary relative to the support structure 7. A
kind of transmission ratio can even be implemented. If the lifting
part 20 abuts the support structure 7 via an elevation curve and
the elevation curve rolls on the support structure 7 when the
lifting part 20 is rotated, the rotational movement of the lifting
part 20 can be translated into a desired translational movement of
the brake caliper 2. However, such a rolling movement is also
understood to be stationary within the meaning of the invention,
because a support for the lifting part 20 occurs at any time at the
current contact point 23.
[0029] Instead of a frictional locking at the contact point 23, a
positive fit could of course also be implemented. For this purpose,
support notches, for example in the form of fine teeth, into which
a part of the lifting part 20, e.g. an edge or a tooth, engages,
could be provided on the part of the support structure 7 that
engages with the lifting part 20. The support notches can be
designed in such a way that, when the brake caliper 2 is applied,
the lifting part 20 is pulled over the support notches. When the
lifting part 20 is rotated, it can latch into the support notches
and thus produce a positive locking, which again creates a support
for the lifting part 20.
[0030] It is also possible for the lifting part 20 to be completely
lifted off the support structure 7 by the lifting drive 22 when the
brake caliper 2 is applied in order to avoid any loss or wear
associated therewith. Only when both brake pads 4, 5 are in contact
with the brake disk 3, could the lifting part 20 be moved toward
the support structure 7 until the lifting part 20 abuts at the
contact point 23. The lifting part 20 can also always be lifted off
the support structure 7 and only be moved to the support structure
7 to make contact, for example by means of the lift drive 22, in
order to produce the movement to move the brake caliper 2 for
lifting the first brake pad 4.
[0031] The lift drive 22 does not necessarily have to produce a
rotary movement in order to rotate the lifting part 20 at the hinge
point 21. A possible advantageous embodiment of the lifting part 20
could be in the form of a lever, as shown in FIG. 2. The lifting
part 20, which is lever-shaped in this embodiment, is hinged to the
brake caliper 2 at the hinge point 21. A first end of the
lever-shaped lifting part 20 abuts the support structure 7 at the
contact point 23 (at least during the lifting of the first brake
pad 4) in order to form the support for moving the brake caliper 2.
On the opposite lever arm, for example on the second, opposite end,
of the lifting part 20, the lift drive 22, for example a linear
drive, engages in order to pivot the lifting part 20 about the
hinge point 21. The function of this embodiment is of course the
same as described above for FIG. 1.
[0032] In certain embodiments of the floating-caliper brake 1, it
can be advantageous if more than one lifting part 20 is provided.
If the brake caliper 2 is guided, for example, in a plurality of
caliper guides 9, such as in two guide pins 8 in the embodiment
according to FIG. 1, then a lifting part 20 is provided preferably
for each, or at least for more than one, support structure 7 as a
caliper guide. Preferably, enough lifting parts 20 are provided so
that it is possible for the brake caliper 2 to move evenly and
safely without the brake caliper 2 being tilted or jammed in a
caliper guide 9. A lift drive 22 can be provided for each lifting
part 20, or a lift drive 22 drives a plurality, preferably all, of
the lifting parts 20 at the same time.
[0033] Another particular advantage of the arrangement of the
lifting part 20 on the brake caliper 2 is that the lifting part 20,
preferably together with the lift drive 22, can be properly
enclosed from the outside. The brake caliper 2 could have a
corresponding recess 24 for receiving the lifting part 20 and
possibly the lift drive 22, which is suitably closed to the
outside, for example by covers or seals, etc. Due to this, the
lifting part 20 and optionally the lift drive 22, can be properly
enclosed from external influences in the vicinity of the
floating-caliper brake 1, for example moisture, ice, snow, dirt,
small solids (e.g. small stones, etc.), which of course
significantly increases the operational reliability.
[0034] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the pressing
device 6, or the pressing drive 13 of the pressing device 6,
simultaneously serves as a lift drive 22. For this purpose, the
movement of the pressing device 6, which is already present, can be
used in any way to rotate the lifting part 20.
[0035] A particularly advantageous embodiment of a floating-caliper
brake 1 having a reliable lift of the two brake pads 4, 5 after
braking is shown in FIG. 3. The same parts as in FIG. 1 are given
the same reference numerals in FIG. 3 and their functions are only
explained again where necessary. The pressing device 6 is
implemented in this embodiment as described by the applicant in WO
2014/139919 A1. The pressing device 6 is designed
electromechanically and includes a cam disk 31 which can be driven
and thus rotated by an electric motor 30 (as a pressing drive 13).
A follower element 33 (for example a rotatably mounted roller) is
arranged on a coupling member 32 and follows the elevation curve 34
of the cam disk 31 when the cam disk 31 is rotated by the electric
motor 30. At each end of the coupling member 32 a lever (not
visible in FIG. 3) is hinged, which, in each case, is connected to
a drive shaft 35 which is rotatably mounted in the brake caliper 2.
The coupling member 32 is moved by the movement of the follower
element 33 and the levers hinged thereon are pivoted, as a result
of which the drive shafts 35 are rotated about their bearing 36.
The coupling member 32 together with the two levers thus form a
parallelogram drive, which enables simple and reliable
synchronization of the drive shafts 35. At least one eccentric
shaft journal 38, preferably one at each end of the drive shafts
35, is provided on each of the drive shafts 35. The axis of
rotation 37 of the shaft journal 38 is arranged eccentrically with
respect to the axis of rotation of the bearing 36. The pressing
part 14 (possibly also the holding part 11 directly) is mounted on
the eccentric shaft journal 38. If the pressing shaft 35 is rotated
as described, the pressing part 14, or the second brake pad 5
arranged thereon, is moved toward the brake disk 3 or away from it,
depending on the direction of rotation of the cam disk 31, due to
the eccentricity of the shaft journal 38. Thus, a brake pad 5,
which is arranged on the pressing part 14, here via the wear
adjuster 12 and a holding part 11, can be moved to the brake disk 3
in order to brake, or lifted off from the brake disk 3 in order to
release the floating-caliper brake 1.
[0036] It should be noted, however, that this embodiment of the
pressing device 6 for brake actuation is of course only an example
and, for the principle according to the invention of lifting the
pad by means of the lifting part 20, the pressing device 6 can be
designed in any other way, in particular by means of eccentrics,
levers, wedges, screws, rods, gears or media such as liquids or
gases.
[0037] In the embodiment shown, the entire pressing device 6 is
arranged in an enclosed manner in the interior of the brake caliper
2, for example in a corresponding recess, and can thus be easily
enclosed from the outside. In this way, the pressing device 6 can
be properly sealed off from external influences in the vicinity of
the floating-caliper brake 1, for example moisture, ice, snow, dirt
and small solids (e.g. small stones, etc.), which significantly
increases the operational reliability of the floating-caliper brake
1.
[0038] In addition, a lifting part 20 is arranged in the brake
caliper 2 of the floating-caliper brake 1 of FIG. 3. The lifting
part 20 is designed as a bracket which is rotatably hinged to the
brake caliper 2 in the region of its two opposite ends in each case
at a hinge point 21. The position of the hinge points 21 is of
course selected such that the resulting supports result in
favorable transmission ratios for moving the brake caliper 2. The
lifting part 20 is clamped between the two hinge points 21 such
that the lifting part 20 bends in the direction of the brake disk
3. The bending also results in a certain prestress in the direction
of the support structure 7. The two axial ends of the lifting part
20, as described above, abut the support structure 7 at contact
points 23, in this case the guide pin 8 of the caliper guide 9, and
are supported thereon. The function of this lifting part 20 is
explained below with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. It should be
pointed out, however, that the function of this lifting part 20
would also be analogous for any other possible embodiment of the
pressing device 6. The specific design of the pressing device 6 is
therefore irrelevant to the function of the lifting part 20.
[0039] FIG. 4 shows the floating-caliper brake 1 in the actuated
state in which the two brake pads 4, 5 are pressed against the
brake disk 3 by the pressing device 6. For this purpose, the cam
disk 31 is rotated counterclockwise, for example, and the follower
element 33 moves along the elevation curve 34 of the cam disk 31
and thus pivots the drive shafts 35, which, due to the
eccentricity, leads to the actuation movement of the pressing part
14. The lifting part 20 is moved in the transverse movement of the
brake caliper 2 as well due to the mounting at the hinge points 21,
as a result of which the contact points 23 move on the support
structure 7. The lifting part 20 is thus centered as described
above.
[0040] In order to release the floating-caliper brake 1, the cam
disk 31 is rotated back again in the opposite direction, i.e.
clockwise, as shown in FIG. 5. In this way, the second brake pad 5,
coupled to the pressing device 6, is lifted off the brake disk 3,
resulting in an air gap L. The pressing drive 13 of the pressing
device 6 (in this case the electric motor 30) is used in this
embodiment simultaneously as a lift drive 22 for actuating the
lifting part 20. For this purpose, not only is the cam disk 31
driven and rotated by the electric motor 30, but also a cam 39. Of
course, an independent lift drive 22 could also be provided. The
cam 39 is arranged such that, when the cam 31 disk is rotated back
into the initial position (i.e. when the floating-caliper brake 1
is released), in which the follower element 33 latches, for
example, in a rest position, the cam 39 comes into engagement with
the lifting part 20 toward the end of the return movement and bends
it further because of the elevation of the cam 39. For this
purpose, the cam 39 engages approximately in the middle of the
lifting part 20. By bending the lifting part 20, the lifting part
20 is rotated about the hinge points 21 and the hinge points 21
(and thus the brake caliper 2) are forcibly moved because the
contact points 23 on the support structure 7 act as a support. In
the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 5, they are moved upward. As a
result of this movement, the brake caliper 2, connected to the
hinge points 21, is inevitably also moved. In this way, the first
brake pad 4 arranged on the brake caliper 2 can be lifted off the
brake disk 3 in a controlled manner, as shown in FIG. 3, which
shows the initial position of the floating-caliper brake 1.
[0041] Due to the centering of the lifting part 20 in the actuated
state of the floating-caliper brake 1, i.e. when both brake pads 4,
5 abut the brake disk 3, a controlled lifting of both brake pads 4,
5 by a desired amount can always be achieved.
[0042] It is obvious that by appropriate dimensioning and
arrangement of the lifting part 20 and the lift drive 22, or the
pressing device 6, the lifting can be easily adapted to the needs
of the particular floating-caliper brake 1. For example, a cam 29
of the pressing device 6 as a lift drive 22 could also rotate the
lever-shaped lifting part 20 from FIG. 2, or the pressing device 6
or a movement coupled therefrom could also rotate the lifting part
20 directly.
[0043] At the axial ends of the lifting part 20 which abut the
support structure 7, materials can of course be used which cause
little wear on the support structure 7. For example, sleeves 40
made of plastics material could be provided at the ends of the
lifting part 20. The lifting part 20 itself could also be made of
plastics material.
[0044] In order to increase the pressing force at the contact point
23 in the event of a frictional locking between the lifting part 20
and the support structure 7, a spring 41 can also be arranged
between the sleeve 40 and the lifting part 20, as shown in FIG. 4.
A spring 41 at one end can be sufficient, or a spring 41 can be
provided at both ends. Likewise, the lifting part 20 can also be
pressed against the support structure 7 using a spring.
[0045] For example, a moving force of 50 N could be required for a
floating-caliper brake 1 in a vehicle in order to be able to move
the brake caliper 2 with usual mass reliably even during normal
cornering. If one also assumes a coefficient of friction between
the lifting part 20, or the sleeve 40, and the support structure 7
of 0.15 (which e.g. certain plastics materials can achieve on
greased steel), one would arrive at a necessary contact pressure
of, for example, 333 N on a friction pairing (lifting part 20 or
sleeve 40/support structure 7). If a plurality of lifting parts 20
are provided, or the coupling part is designed as in FIG. 3, then
the moving force can of course be divided accordingly, as a result
of which the necessary contact pressure for the frictional locking
is also reduced accordingly, i.e. in this example to 166.5 N. In
order to achieve these pressing forces, a spring can be used for
support if necessary.
[0046] Of course, the lifting part 20 does not have to abut the
support structure 7 at the contact point 23 during the entire
actuation of the floating-caliper brake 1. In principle, it is
sufficient if the lifting part 20 only abuts the support structure
7 when the floating-caliper brake 1 has been actuated, that is,
when the two brake pads 4, 5 abut the brake disk 3 for braking, in
order to preferably center the lifting part 20. The exact time
point when the lifting part 20 abuts the support structure 7, for
example shortly before both brake pads 4, 5 abut or at maximum
tension, is, however, irrelevant. The lifting part 20 could also
abut the support structure 7 only together with or during the
release of the second brake pad 5 or even only after the second
brake pad 5 has been completely lifted off the brake disk 3 by
means of the pressing device 6, or at some point in between. It is
only important that the lifting part 20 abuts the contact point 23
for a certain time period at some point during the release of the
floating-caliper brake 1 and that the lift drive 22 moves the
lifting part 20 during this time period such that the lifting part
20 moves the brake caliper 2 via the resulting support at the
contact point 23 and the hinge point 21 relative to the support
structure 7. In this way, the brake caliper 2 together with the
first brake pad 4 can also be lifted before the second brake pad 5
and/or simultaneously with the second brake pad 5 when the
floating-caliper brake 1 is released. How the lifting part 20 is
lifted from the support structure 7 or how the lifting part 20
abuts the support structure 7 is actually implemented is
irrelevant. This is preferably carried out by means of the lift
drive 22 or the pressing device 6 (as a lift drive 22), for example
as described, via the elevation curve of a cam 39 or a plurality of
cams. In the embodiment according to FIG. 3, for example, a second
cam or a corresponding elevation curve of the cam 39 could be
provided, which lifts the lifting part 20 from the support
structure 7 while the floating-caliper brake 1 is applied.
[0047] The specific design of the lifting part 20 is also
irrelevant to the invention. It is only important that the lifting
part 20 is hinged to the brake caliper 2 at a hinge point 21 and,
at least in order to lift the first brake pad 4 from the brake disk
3, abuts a contact point 23 on the support structure 7 to form a
support and is moved by a lift drive 22 in order to lift such that
the contact point 23 acts as a support for the lifting part 20 and
the brake caliper 2 is moved over the hinge point 21.
[0048] The brake caliper can of course also generally be seen as a
clamping part of the friction surfaces, with the result that the
invention can also be applied equally to multiple disk and
multi-disk brakes, whereas the number of friction surfaces being
arbitrary. The friction surfaces of a floating-caliper brake 1 do
not have to be disk-shaped either, but rather they can have any
useful geometry, for example straight or curved surfaces. Vehicles
of all kinds as well as machines, devices, propellers, lifting
devices, etc. can be braked. The invention can even be applied to
internal or external shoe brakes by the shoe carrier (which is then
equivalent to the brake caliper) being designed according to the
invention such that both shoes can be lifted with the desired
movement.
* * * * *